Thread: A shot in the dark

I've had good luck with Proraso, Castle Forbes and Kiehl's. All water soluble. I do lots of hot wet towel prepping with them and follow with same hot wet towel over lather for final prep before lathering & shaving. For me the better the prep the more enjoyable the shave becomes.

I like what Taylor Of Old Bond, Acqua Di Parma and Saponificio Varesino oils did to shave and my dry sensitive skin but found brush acquiring an oily build up especially with face lathering. Had to wash brush in dish soap to get it out. I have one brush that became the oil brush but I'm finding myself using those oils less and less.

I can't seem to get the hot towel thing down. I used a kitchen drying linin and it was no better than my wash cloth.

I used a terry cloth style hand towel for a long time and then last year I found some ribbed bar towels I like better.

I tried various towel preps but ended up with leaning over sink with a dripping hot wet towel using sink filled with 140F tap water. A bit on the messy side but only way I've been able to get results. When I've done it right there is almost no plinking sound as blade cuts hair.

I can't find it now but somewhere back there I read it takes about 4 minutes to fully hydrate whiskers. After a shower it's about 2 or so minutes for me. Sound and razor tug are my indicators.

Originally Posted by jmercer

I used a terry cloth style hand towel for a long time and then last year I found some ribbed bar towels I like better.

I tried various towel preps but ended up with leaning over sink with a dripping hot wet towel using sink filled with 140F tap water. A bit on the messy side but only way I've been able to get results. When I've done it right there is almost no plinking sound as blade cuts hair.

I can't find it now but somewhere back there I read it takes about 4 minutes to fully hydrate whiskers. After a shower it's about 2 or so minutes for me. Sound and razor tug are my indicators.

Thanks for the info. Very helpful. You can imagine what I have been through all these years. Mostly all I did was use a can of Barbersol foam. Only recently have I been engaged in a more sophisticated approach. Guess I will go a hand towel. Will Google Barber supplies to see what I come up with.

Nearest Target where I got my hand towels.

http://www.target.com/c/bath-towels-...m&max_price=to

My pre-shave is about 8 drops of vitamin E oil before bed, rubbing into the beard vigorously and the rest on arms and hands.
I do shower in the evening, shave in the morning, and use a hot towel.

The hairs are soft and the blade is grabbing them nicely the next morning. MUCH nicer than without.
No oily feel anywhere.

I forget the mesh, but it is the thinner stuff.
Just me.

Originally Posted by jmercer

Nearest Target where I got my hand towels.

http://www.target.com/c/bath-towels-...m&max_price=to

Thanks. Just read a site where fellow outlined wash cloth use, only longer than what I do. Will be changing up my routine.

i say use it a couple of more times before you can say that the difference was attributed to the preshave rather than just another one of those awesome shaves that just seem to occur everyonce in a while

I've been using Ach Brito glyce lime pre shave soap for a couple of months now, and I've noticed a considerable difference in my shave. My schedule is pretty wonky, so I often do not shower before my shave, and it cuts down on my prep time while making the end result at least as good as a hot shower.